Amid #COVID19 pandemic, SC Court Ad Midas Marquez instructs trial court judges to comply with 2014 jail decongestion guidelines by releasing on their own recognizance detainees who have served min imposable penalty and by provisionally dismissing cases in some sitns. 
Bayan Muna commends the Supreme Court's circular saying this could lead to release of detainees who have served minimum period and not just the elderly, sick, pregnant or those who are vulnerable to #COVID19
The Public Interest Law Center, one of the lawyers of the 22 inmates who filed an SC petition seeking the release of political prisoners, the sick and the elderly, says SC circular a "timely cue" for other offices and govt agencies to hasten decongestion of prisons.
The DOJ is also studying pleas to release prisoners.
Various human rights groups, the business sector-backed Judicial Reform Initiative and even the BJMP and the House Committee on Justice expressed support for the release.
Various human rights groups, the business sector-backed Judicial Reform Initiative and even the BJMP and the House Committee on Justice expressed support for the release.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also supports call for release of prisoners: We all know that our jails are overcrowded. A small space good for one detainee is occupied by 4 or more prisoners. There is no social distancing to speak of in our detention facilities.
Rodriguez: A single infected detainee will surely spread the virus to others. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and it already happened in Quezon City.
Kabataan Party-list on SC circular: It is a welcome devt in the intl call on govts to take urgent action to protect the health and safety of people in detention and other closed facilities as part of the overall efforts to contain the #COVID19 pandemic.
Kabataan Party-list hopes that following the release of the SC circular, SC will grant petition of some political prisoners for their release, as well as those vulnerable to #COVID19, on humanitarian grounds.
